Dam and apparatus for constructing the same.



l H. L. oooPBR. DAM AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUGTING THB SAME Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 18, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. L. COOPER. DAM AND APPARATUS FOR GONSTBUGTING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1909.

H. L. COOPER.

DAM AND APPARATUS F011 coNsTRUuTmG THB SAME.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED HLRJB, 1909.

5 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

l/l wa,

331:; @Uf 10511121 J "H. L. COOPER. DAM AND APPARATUS POB. OONSTRUOTING THE SAME.

APPLIUATI'ON FILED Mums, 1009.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

s uname-SHEET 4'.

H. L. CUOPER.

DAM AND APPARATUS PoR CONSTRUGTING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-18, 1909. 955,851 Patented Apr. 26,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH L. COOPER, OF STAIVIFORD, CONNECTICUT.

DAM AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING- THE SAME.

y To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-I'UGH LINCOLN COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Stamford, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Dams and Apparatus for Constructing the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dams and to apparatus for constructing the same, and has for its object the construction of dams, preferably in sections, in such manner that some parts or sections of the dam extend above other parts or sections thereof, thereby forming open spaces for the flow of the water between each two successive parts or sections extending above a part or section intervening between them, and the provision, in one or more of said open spaces for the flow of the water, of means hereinafter more partie ularly described for regulating the flow of the water, together with the other advantages and features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of a dam constructed in accordance with this invention, the section being made across the dam parallel to the direction of the flow of the water; Fig. 2 is an elevation of an upper part of the dam shown in Fig. 1, the view being from the down-stream side of the dam; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the part of the dam shown in Fig. 2, the view being from the upstream side of the dam; Figs. 4; and 5 are elevations, partly in vertical section, made as in Fig. 1, of the upper part of the dam shown in Fig. 1, Fig. et showing the flash-board or leaf of the flash-board shown in Fig. 1 raised and Fig. 5 showing the same flash-board or leaf thereof released from its support; Figs. G and 7 are elevations, Fig. 6 being partly 1n vertical section, showing 1n Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1909.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

sei-iai No. 484,128.

per part of a dam made in accordance with this invention, Fig. 11 being an elevation, mostly in vertical section made as in Fig. 1, and Fig. 12 being an elevation, partly in vertical section and partly broken away, as viewed from the up-stream side of the dam.

In the drawings like letters indicate like parts.

AA are parts or sections of thedam extending above other parts or sections BB thereof.

CC are open spaces for the flow of the water over the parts BB and between each two successive parts AA.

D is a bridge extending across the dam at the top thereof from shore to shore, passing over the open spaces CC and resting on the parts or sections AA.

EE are flash-boards, sluice-gates or stopgates which may be made of a single leaf, but which are preferably made, as shown in the drawings, of several leaves ce. When a flash-board E is made of two or more leaves ee, the leaves ee should, preferably, overlap each other along their' adjoining edges.

The flash-boards EE, or the several leaves ce thereof, extend across the open spaces CC and are so supported that they may be moved so as to close or open, partially or entirely, the open spaces CC, whereby the flow of the water through one or more of the open spaces CC may be checked entirely, as shown in Fig. 1, or partially, as would be the case when the leaves of the flash-board are arranged as shown in the central openings C of Figs. 2 and 3, or not at all, as shown in Figs. f1 and 5.

In a dam constructed in accordance with this invention, the flash-boards EE or the several leaves ce thereof should, preferably, be supported normally at their upper ends by means of hinges FF, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1. The lower ends of the flash-boards EE or of the several leaves ce thereof should, preferably, when fully lowered, rest against projecting edges GG of the parts or sections BB provided, preferably, with facings IIII of suitable material, such as felt soaked with tar, tar melted and applied with brushes, asphalt, elastic material and the like.

The hin e F may be constructed as clearly shown in Il'igs. 6, 7 8, 9 and 10 or in any other suitable manner, but preferably in such manner, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 8, 9

and 10, as to permit the easy and quick separation of the parts thereof to release the upper ends of the flash-boards EE or of the several leaves ce from their supports. The

hinge F may consist of two parts, I and J. Y The part I may be joined by bolts KK to the bridge D and may be provided with two, parallel, outwardly extending, flat pieces of metal aa, having recesses lib. The piece I may be also provided with two pivoted arms L and M, the arm L havinga notch 0 and the arm M having a recess CZ and having its free end f so shaped as to t and catch in the notch c of the arm L.

The part ,J of the hinge F may be joined by bolts KK to the flash-board E or to a leaf thereof e and may be provided with two, outwardly extending, flat pieces of metal gg, each provided with a hole 71,.

s shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the parts I and J of the hinge F may be joined together by passing a bolt O through the two holes hh of the part J, bringing the bolt O to rest in the recesses bb of the part I and securing the bolt in position by turning the armsV M and L upon their pivots until the end f of the arm M is caught and held in the notch c offthe arm L, when the recess CZ of the arm VM will rest about one side of the bolt O.

The arm L of the hinge F maybe connected with a revolubleV rod P operated by a lever Q, so that when pressure is exerted upon the lever Q the rod P is thereby caused to revolve in the proper direction and the arm L of the part I of the hinge F will be lifted up or away from the end f of the arm M, whereupon the arm M will fall by reason of its own weight and of the weight of the iash-board E or leaf e thereof, and of the parts connected therewith, and as the arm M falls, the flash-board E or the leaf` c thereof will also fall and no longer obstruct the flow of the water through the open space C in which it may be, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each flash-board E or leafe thereof should, preferably, be provided at each end with means, such as a ring r, suitable for attachment to a chain, cable or. like device R. A crane S, traveling on tracks ss upon the bridge D and provided with cables, pulleys and hooks tt, may be employed as suitable means for hoisting any of the flashboards EE or leaves @e thereof.

The lower end of each chain R is attached to a ring r atv the lower end of each `flashboard E or leaf e thereof, and when not in Y use the upper end ofV each chain may be secured to a ring or like device u upon one side ofthe bridge D. I/Vhen it is desired to raiseY the lower end of any flaslrboard E or leaf e thereof, the upper end of the chain connected therewith is disconnected from the ring u and attached to a hook t of the craney S, whereupon, by operation of the crane, the flash-board E or leaf c thereof support and falls as in Fig. 5, the chain R holds it and prevents it from being carried away by and with the flowing water. rIhe ring 1" at the upper end of the flash-board E or leaf e thereof may serve as a means 0f securing that end to a hook t of the crane S when the flash-board or leaf` thereof has been recovered by means of the chain R and it is desired again to connect the upper end thereof to its support.

W represents the water in Figs. l, 4 and 5.

As indicated above, leach Hash-board E, extending across an open space C of the dam, may consist, of one leaf or of several leaves 'and may' be made of steel, timber' or other suitable material. l/Vhere the open space C is of considerable width orV where the water flows through the open space C ata considerable depth above the part or section B the flash-board E should, preferabl consist of several leaves as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The parts or sections AA andrBBY of the of the parts or sections AA which-extend above the parts or sections BB may be either of the same material as the lower portions thereof or of different material, but I prefer to make the parts or sections AA entirely of masonry, as shown in the drawings.

The bridge D may be of any suitable construction or width, depending upon the purpose for which it is designed, such as the transit of foot passengers, vehicles or other purpose.

From the foregoing description of a dam constructed and provided with flash-boards in accordance with this invention, it will be clear to those skilled inthe art to which this invention appertains, that the utility and advantages thereof are several and important. Where the water of a stream, river, lake or other body of water is held back or stored up by means of a dam, it is, in

most cases, especially in those cases where p the flow or discharge of the water varies greatly, necessary to provide means for adjusting and keeping approximately constant thelevel of the water held back or stored'up by the dani. This necessity results from several causes. At times of what may be called the flood discharge of the water, the level of the water held vback or stored up will rise or tend to rise and may overflow the shores of the body of water unless means are provided for permitting greater quantities of water to flow, in any given time, over Cri or through the darn. Too reat a rise in the level of the water held baer or stored up by the dam will, moreover, threaten the integrity of the dam or destroy it, by reason, for instance, of the increase in the pressure of the water upon the dam, because, as a matter of reasonable economy in the construction of dams, a dam is generally constructed to sustain with safety the pressure exerted by the water held back or stored up at an approximately fixed level. On the other hand, at times of the low or minimum discharge of the water, the level of the water held back or stored up by the dam falls, or tends to fall, below the level necessary to secure the proper operating head of the water, which is determined by the difference in elevation between the level of the head water, or water held back or stored up by the dam, and the level of the tail water, or water on the down-stream side of the dam, as shown in Fig. 1, unless means are provided in such case for checking the flow of the water over or throuOh the dam in order to keep the water held back or stored up by the dam approximately at the proper level.

For the reasons stated, and for other like reasons, what may be called the crest proper of the dam, that is the top of the parts or sections BB or bottom of the open spaces CC, must be far enough below the limit of the proper level of the water held back or stored up by the dam to permit, by proper manipulation of the flash-boards, sluicegates or stop-gates of the dam, an increased discharge of the water over or through the dam, especially during times of flood discharge. As will be well understood, moreover, at times of the low discharge of the water the depth of ,the water flowing over and above the crest of the dam diminishes and there is at such times a correspoiuling falling in the level of the water held back or stored up by the dam from the level at. a greater or flood discharge of the water.

Because of the foregoing considerations, it is, in the proper construction of a dam designed to store up water or to store it up and make it available for any use, such as use in operating power plants or like use, necessary to provide means for raising at low discharge and for lowering at flood discharge, or, in other words, adjusting and keeping approximately constant the level of the water held back or stored up by the dam. These objects are accomplished by means of dashboards, sluice-gates or stopgates arranged above the crest proper of the dani. The construction and manipulation of such flash-boards, sluice-gates or stop-gates are, however, attended with much difliculty and in times of flood discharge, when violent fluctuations are apt to occur in the flow of the water, the dam itself may be destroyed or the rising water may overflow the adjoining shores unless the flash-boards can easily and quickly be removed so as to permit the unimpeded flow of the water through the darn or over the crest proper thereof. Such easy and quick removal of the flash-boards is accomplished in the manner above described and shown in the drawings in a dam constructed in accordance with this invention.

In adjusting and keeping approximately constant the level of the water held back or stored up by the dam, such number of flashboards or leaves thereof are raised or lowered, partially or entirely, as occasion may require. When the flash-boards or leaves thereof are lowered, they may, by the aid of the crane or other suitable device, be lowered gradually, the chain or cable holding back the lower ends thereof as the flowing water tends to carry them downwardly as they turn upon their hinges.

It will be apparent that in case of violent or sudden fluctuation in the discharge of the water over or through the dam, effective means are provided in a dam constructed in accordance with this invention to insure the easy and quick removal of the flash-boards. Should the means provided for raising the flash-boards become inoperative for any cause, or should it not be possible to raise the flash-boards because of ice or other material pressing against them or because of any other cause, the releasing from their supports of the upper ends of the flashboards or of the leaves thereof in the man ner described, will at once remove them and permit the unobstructed flow of the water as shown in Fig. 5.

As will be understood, the revoluble rod P, operated by the lever Q, may be connected with one or with several of the arms L of the supports for the upper ends of the flash-boards or leaves thereof, so that when pressure is exerted upon a single-lever Q, and the rod P is caused to revolve in the proper direction, one or more dashboards or leaves thereof will be released.

In Fig. 2 the rod P is shown as extending across the central open space C and connected with all the arms L of all the supports for the upper ends of the leaves ec of the flash-board E, so that pressure in the proper direction upon any one lever Q, connected with said rod P will at once release all of said leaves ce forming the flash-board E of said central space C, while in the spaces GC to the right and left of said central space C of Fig. 2 each support for each leaf of the flash-boards is provided with a separate rod P operated only by the lever Q connected with it.

Even where the flash-boards E are, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, made of several leaves ce, difliculty may be experienced in raising or lowering the flash-boards or the several leaves thereof through the water or against the pressure of the water. Thi'sdiiiiculty may be overcome in a dam constructed in accordance with this invention by provid- 'ing the flash-boards or several leaves thereof `pad-gates TT covering openings UU in the leaves ee. The pad-gates TT are, preferably, secured at their lower ends to pivots VV secured in the leaves ee and provided with rings rr at their upper ends to which chains RR may be attached. As shown in Fig. 11, a pull upon the chain R will cause the pad-gate T to turn upon its pivot V and thus uncover the opening U, which openings U are shown in dotted lines in Fig'. 12. The uncovering of the opening U will permit the water to pass through the opening and will at the same time relieve the pressure of the water upon the leaf e and make it less difficult to raise or lower the leaf e in and through the water. By continuing the pull upon the chain R, the pad-gate T and the flash-board E or the leaf e thereof will be raised out of the water and will assume the positions shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 11, whereupon the parts in question may be secured in such positions by the aid of the hook X. In Fig. 12 several leaves ee provided with pad-gates TT are shown in position partially closing the space() and several are shown raised so as to partially open the space C. To facilitate the raising of the flash-boards EE or leaves ee thereof, when provided with pad-gates, the bridge D may be provided with openings YY.

In lowering the flash-boards or leaves thereof, provided with pad-gates as described, the pad-gates will. not close the openings U until the flash-boards or leaves are in position and consequently the force necessary to hold the flash-boards or leaves back against the pressure of the water, while lowering the same, is not so greatas would be required if the flash-boards or leaves were not provided with openings and pad-gates. The pad-gates, moreover, may be used to regulate the level of the water stored up by the dam.

IVhat I claim is 1. A stable dam provided with a crest and an open space for the flow of water over the crest and means for regulating such How of water comprising a flash-,board suspended within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

@sassi 2. A stable dam provided with a crestand an open space for the flow of water over the crest and means for regulating such iiow of the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

4. A stable dam provided with a crest and an open space for the iiow yof water over the crest and means for regulating such flow of water comprising a hash-board comprising a leaf suspended by a hinge within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

5. A stable dam provided with a crest and an open space for the flow of water over the crest and means for regulating such flow of water comprising a pivoted flash-board suspended within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

G. A stable dam provided with a crest and an open space for the flow of water over the crest and means for regulating such flow of water comprising a flash-board comprising a pivoted leaf suspended'within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

7. A stable dam provided with a crest and an open space for the iiow of water over the crest and means for regulating such flow of water comprising a flash-board comprising pivoted leaves suspended within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

8. A dam provided with an open space for the flow of water and a Hash-board suspended by a detachable support within said space, substantially as described.

9. A dam provided with an open space for the flow of water and a flash-board suspended by a separable hinge within' said space, substantially as described.

10. A dam provided with an open space for the flow of water and a pivoted flashboard suspended by a detachable support within said space, substantially as described..

1l. A dam provided with an open space for the flow of water and a Hash-board comprising a pivoted leaf suspended by a detachable support within said space, substantially as described. l

12. In a dam provided with an open space for the iow of water, the combination of a flash-board, means for suspending the flashboard within said space, and means for detaching the flash-board from said means for suspending it, substantially as described.

13. In a dam provided with an open space Vfor the How of water, the combination'o'f la izo flash-board comprising a leaf, means for suspending the leaf within said space, and means for detaching the leaf from said means for suspending it, substantially as described.

14. In a dam, the combination of a flashboard, a support for the suspension thereof, means for connecting the flash-board to the support, and a rod connected with said means to disconnect the flash-board from its support upon the movement of the rod, substantially as described.

15. In a dam, the combination of a flashboard comprising a leaf, a support for the suspension of the leaf, means for connecting the leaf to the support, and a rod connected with said means to disconnect the leaf from its support upon the movement of the rod, substantially as described.

16. In a dam, a flash-board, pivoted and suspended at its upper part substantially as described.

17. In a dam, a flash-board comprising a leaf pivoted and suspended at its upper part, substantially as described.

18. In a dam, the combination of a flashboard pivoted and suspended at its upper part and means for elevating the lower end of the .flash-board, substantially as described.

19. In a dam, the combination of a Hashboard comprising a leaf pivoted and suspended at its upper part and means for clevating the lower end of the leaf, substantially as described.

20. In a dam, the combination of a support, a Hash-board detachably suspended from the support and means for retaining the flash-board when detached from its support, substantially as described.

21. In a dam, the combination of a support, a flash-board comprising a leaf detachably suspended from the support and means for retaining the leaf when detached from the support, substantially as described.

22. A dam provided with a crest and two parts extending above an intervening part of the crest, thereby forming an open space for the flow of water, a bridge extending above and across the open space and a flash-board' suspended within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

23. A dam provided with a crest and two parts extending above an intervening part of the crest, thereby forming an open space for the flow of water, a bridge extending above and across the open space and a flash-board comprising a leaf suspended within said space and above the crest of the dam, substantially as described.

24. In a stable dam, the combination of parts of the dam forming an open space between for the flow of water, and a pivoted sluice-gate suspended in said space, substantially as described.

25. In a stable dam, the combination of parts of the dam, said parts being built of masonry, forming an open space between for the flow'of Water, and a pivoted sluice-gate suspended in said space, substantially as described.

26. A stable dam comprising consecutive parts, some parts extending above another part and forming an open space for the flow of water, and a pivoted sluice-gate suspended in said space, substantially as described.

27. .A dam comprising consecutive parts, some parts extending above another part and forming an open space for the flow of water, and a pivoted sluice-gate detachably suspended in said space, substantially as described.

28. A stable dam comprising consecutive parts, some parts extending above another part and forming an open space for the flow of water, and a sluiee-gate suspended in said space, substantially as described.

29. A dam comprising consecutive parts, some parts extending above another part and forming an open space for the iiow of water, and a sluice-gate detachably suspended in said space, substantially as described.

30. In a dam, a flash-board located above the crest of the dam and provided with a pad-gate, substantially as described.

:51. In a dam, a pivoted flash-board located above the crest of the dam and provided with a pad-gate, substantially as described.

32. In a dam, a flash-board located above the crest of the dam and provided with a pivoted pad-gate, substantially as described. 100

33. In a dam, a pivoted flash-board located above the crest of the dam and provided with a pivoted pad-gate, substantially as described.

34. In a dam, a flash-board located above 105 the crest of the dam and comprising a leaf having a pad-gate, substantially as described.

35. In a dam, a flash-board comprisino' a pivoted leaf having a pad-gate, substantially as described.

36. In a dam, a flash-board located above the crest of the dam and comprising a leaf having a pivoted pad-gate, substantially as described.

37. In a dam, a flash-board located above 115 the crest of the dam and comprising a pivoted leaf having a pivoted pad-gate, substantially as described.

3S. In a dam, the combination of a pivoted flash-board provided with a pivoted 120 pad-gate and means attached to the pivoted pad-gate for elevating the lower end of the flash-board, substantially as described.

39. In a dam, the combination of a flashboard comprising a pivoted leaf having a 125 pivoted pad-gate and means attached to the pivoted pad-gate for elevating the lower end of the leaf, substantially as described.

40. A dam provided with a crest and an open space for the flow of Water over the 130 `cii'esi'ka'nd a pivoted flash-board having' a pivi comprising a pivoted 1leaiii lad a 'padgate oted pad-gate suspended Within Said space covering an opening` in lsaid 1eafsubstari 10 and above the crest of the dam7 substantially tially as described.

4:1. A dam provided with a crest and an u es described. HUGH L COOPERi openspace for the ovv of Water over the Witnesses: i crest and a flash-board Suspended Within J. P. ALLEN, Y Said VSpace and above the crest of the dam D. P. COOPER. 

